OLD ENGLISH SIGNS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 November 1936, Page 9

OLD ENGLISH SIGNS

QUAINT NAMES FROM COUNTRYSIDE

(By Air Mail—From A Special Correspondent)

LONDON, 7th November. About 250 inn signs, interesting either as works of art or as reminders of local history and tradition, figure in an exhibition opened by Sir William Llewellyn, President of the Royal Academy, in Bond street. The exhibition is the answer to the lament that the inn sign was disappearing, or being supplanted by standard designs. Over 400 owners of inns responded to an invitation to send their signs, and from these a selection was made. Among some of the quaint names are the “Blue Cap Inn” the “Mortal Man” or the “Roaring Donkey.” “The Man Loaded with Mischief” attributed to Hogarth, is perhaps the most delightful. It shows a man bearing on his shoulders a woman, a monkey and a magpie. The woman is holding a glass of gin. The man is chained, and is pointing to a padlock at his neck, symbolising matrimony. The modern designs are good and indifferent, but the good are very 1 good. One of the most delightful is by Sir Hamo Thornycroft, and carved by his niece, Isobel Donaldson. It is a figure of a very young Bacchus astride a barrel, and may normally be seen at Wolhampton, Berks. j